Former defense minister Serdyukov summoned for questioning in the Oboronservis case

December 27, 2012, 17:09 UTC+3The damage within the case is estimated at over four billion roubles

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MOSCOW, December 27 (Itar-Tass) — Russia’s former Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov has been summoned for questioning in the Oboronservis case, Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin has confirmed to Itar-Tass.

“Serdyukov has got a subpoena,” Markin said.

The investigators expect Serdyukov on Friday, December 28.

The former defense minister’s lawyer, Genrikh Padva, has said that his client is in Moscow and has not left the city for a single day.

“Last time I saw him earlier today,” Padva said. “I believe that media rumors Serdyukov has allegedly vanished and may have fled the country are ill-intentioned falsehoods, circulated with the aim to create his negative image,” Padva said.

The main military investigation department /GVSU/ of the Investigative Committee /SK/ opened eight criminal cases over fraud involving more than a dozen real estate facilities that belonged to the Oboronservis company subordinate to the Defense Ministry.

They were pooled in one case and are being investigated under the articles on fraud and exceeding and abusing authority.

Defense Ministry officials selected the most liquid and prestigious assets belonging to the Ministry, including Moscow-based property. As a rule, tremendous budget funds were injected into the property before it was sold at understated prices to commercial bodies affiliated with Oboronservis, the SK reported earlier.

Also, many facilities were purchased with the money stolen from Oboronservis.